Why has Qatar paused its efforts to ramp up LNG production at Ras Laffan?

Qatar has paused its efforts to rapidly revive LNG production at the Ras Laffan complex following an Iranian attack on its Al Rekayyat LNG tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which raised serious safety concerns about maritime transit through the strategically vital waterway; as a result, QatarEnergy CEO Saad Al-Kaabi decided to cease planned output increases, maintain operations at a minimum, and reduce the number of vessels scheduled to dock in the coming days.

What is the current status of Ras Laffan’s production capacity and repair timeline after recent attacks?

The Ras Laffan facility had been largely shut since early March after an Iranian drone attack, and about 17% of its production capacity was damaged in a subsequent missile strike weeks later; repairs to that damaged portion are estimated to take at least three years.

Qatar Pauses Push to Ramp Up LNG After Hormuz Tanker Attack

Jul 9, 2026

QatarEnergy paused LNG production ramp-up at Ras Laffan following a tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz, risking tighter global gas markets amid escalating regional tensions.

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